Folding basket



Patented Sept. l3, |s9s M. BACH.

FOLDING BASKET. (Application filed. June 15, 1897.)

(No Model.)

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MAXIMILIAN EACH, OF PITTSBURG PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING BASKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 610,787, dated September 13, 1898.

Application filed June 15, 1897- Serial No. 640,830. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ll/IAXIMILIAN EACH, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Baskets, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in folding baskets, and has for its object to provide a basket having hinged sides, ends, and bottom, whereby the same may be folded, so as to reduce the size of the basket to a minimum when empty, the ends being so hinged as to fold inwardly and permit the sides to fold toward each other.

The invention further aims to construct a basket of this nature which may be composed of any desired material-such as wicker or willow ware, papier-mach, light wood, or any other suitable materialthe general form of arrangement and construction being employed irrespective of the nature of the material of which the basket is composed.

The invention further resides in the simplicity of construction, cheapness of manufacture, strength, durability, and of the rigid construction which is presented when the basket is in the built-up form.

With the above and other objects in View the invention finally consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more specifically described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein like letters of referenceindicate similar parts throughout the several views, in which Figure l is a top plan View with the bottom partly folded. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line X X of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the basket when folded. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line y of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings by reference-letters, a indicates the sides of the hasket, which are provided with tapered ends inclining toward the bottom I), which is secured by hinges c to one of the sides a. The ends (1 are formed in two pieces hinged to gether centrally of the basket and provided with tapered ends. The inclination of the edge conforms to the inclination of the side pieces a, these said end pieces being secured by hinges e to the flanged offset c, said flanged offset being permanently secured to the side pieces a. Said flanged offset to which the end pieces are secured serves to hold said end pieces out of engagement with the side, thereby leaving a space between said end pieces and sides when folded to receive the bottom. The bottom is supported by cleats f, which are secured near the base of the inner face of the side pieces a and of the end pieces d, these forming a support for the bottom Z7. The handle g is carried by chains or straps 7L, having fastening ends h, which are attached to the inner face of the sides a. When the basket is formed of wicker or willow ware, as shown in Fig. 1, the hinges for securing the different portions together are of course dispensed with, andin lieu of the same I provide rings at the corners of the basket, engaging the ends and the sides, and also hinge the end pieces at their center in the same manner, the same form of handle being employed in this construction.

It will of course be observed that this principle of construction may be employed in other shapes and formsof basket than that illustrated in the drawings, and I therefore do not wish to limit myself to the specific shape as herein shown and described, and it will also be noted that various other changes may be made throughout the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Afoldin g basket comprising inits construction inclined walls, sides having flanged offsets upon their vertical edges, foldable ends hinged to said offsets, said ends being formed in two pieces hinged together centrally ofthe basket,cleats upon a side and upon theends interior to said basket, and a rigid bottom hinged to a side and adapted to be forced, down upon the cleats and against the inclined walls of said basket, substantially as de- V scribed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MAXIMILIAN BAOII.

\Vitnesses A. M. WILSON, THOS'. M. Born, Jr. 

